Apply by 26th April for Fully-Funded OU Microcredentials starting June/July 2024

Today, Scottish Union Learning held an information session on the application process for the next round of fully funded OU Microcredentials beginning June/July 2024.

Click here to view the information session on Zoom, including full audio transcript, or view via YouTube below:

About Microcredentials

Microcredentials allow you to gain specialist knowledge and skills to help advance your career. Accredited by the Open University, they help learners with their personal development.

Trade unions have been involved in the Open University microcredentials since they were launched back in June 2020 and have developed additional models of support for our members.

Key to supporting learners through to successful completion, unions quickly developed weekly study support groups. These groups can be as small as two or three learners, that meet once a week online (or in-person if within the same workplace) to provide positive peer support. It is particularly helpful if the learners are on the same course as they can help each other out with understanding the coursework, but they can also be helpful in providing space in which union-learners can just talk to each other for motivational purposes. The feedback we have for these study groups is positive, and your union can help with setting these up.

Such is the success of trade union participation across the microcredentials, Open University have offered us a number of reserved funded places on the upcoming iteration.

Application Guidance

To secure a reserved place, it is crucial that:

• applicants tell their union what course they have applied for
• meet the eligibility criteria of:
• domiciled in Scotland
• UK citizen or have the legal right to live and work in the UK
• 18+ years of age

The OU are also keen to award funded places based on the following:

• The strength of the personal statement
• Geographical representation across the whole of Scotland
• A balance across protected characteristics

Crucially, union-learners must apply and inform their union of their application by Friday 26^th April, and their union must subsequently inform Open University of those applications (also by Friday 26^th). It would also be helpful if the unions ensure I am included in that correspondence.

The personal statement is really important:

Why do you think taking this course would be of benefit to you? What skills do you hope to develop and how will it help you in your career? (Minimum 20 words, Maximum 150 words). Please note: If we receive more applications than available places, we will use the answers to this question to help us award the funded places so please answer this question carefully.

Also, when completing the application – remember to click in Question 20 that you heard about the opportunity through your Trade Union and in Question 21 to state which union you are a member of.

For more information on available courses and to apply visit: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/scotland-micro